Truck Driver Training

I’m hearing a lot about the hours of service (HOS) rules for truck driving. The current HOS rules state that truck drivers can drive for up to 11 hours, but then must rest or be off the road for at least 10 consecutive hours. The old HOS allowed drivers to be on the road for 10 hours and off for eight, which is what is being proposed again.

The way I see it, any rule that encourages truck drivers to get more sleep is going to have an impact on both road safety and profitability. Mandating truck drivers to stay off the road for ten hours not only encourages them to rest completely before heading back on the road, but also allows them ample time to fit in a little exercise, which might benefit them when the CSA 2010 goes into effect next July (We'll talk about that in another post).

Figures from the Department of Transportation (DOT) demonstrate that the trucking industry is now the safest it has been since they started keeping track of driving statistics in 1975. The number of truck-involved fatalities on our highways has decreased by 19% since the current HOS rules took effect. The number of injuries has decreased by 13% since 2004. This is noteworthy considering that the number of registered truck drivers has grown by tens of thousands and the miles driven by large trucking companies has increased by more than 2 million. In short, the current HOS rules are working, so why try to fix something that isn’t broken? Why go back to old ways when the new ways are better?

Even though drivers have increased their on the road time by one hour, they are also increasing their off the road time by two hours. Truck drivers can get a full eight hours of sleep and still have time to eat a balanced meal, read the paper, check their email, and talk to loved ones before having to rush back into the cab and start driving.

There is a reason that the trucking industry was callously referred to as sweatshops on wheels…the truck drivers were not encouraged to get ample sleep. “Drive, drive, drive! Make money!” is what they were told. With the current HOS rules, they are not only encouraged, but are forced to rest for a longer period of time. Not only does this new rule protect the safety of the truck drivers, it protects the safety of all the other drivers on the road with them.

So, this is just my opinion. From the research I’ve done, I think it would be crazy to go back to the ‘on 10, off 8’ hours of service. But I’m not a truck driver that has to deal with this. Here’s where you come in…what are your thoughts? Do you like the way things are, or are you hoping they pass the bill to go back to the way things were before? Let me know!